Science Comics: Flying Machines–A Mother and Son Review

The style in which Science Comics: Flying Machines is written lends itself to an older audience than some of the other science comics. Author Alison Wilgus and illustrator Molly Brooks combine text, diagrams, and technical explanations in a clever way to explain how human flight evolved through a painstaking (and sometimes painful!) process. It is the manner in which the text is grouped that makes this book seem more appropriate for a slightly older audience. The text bubbles are often grouped in long strings and with the bubbles of one speaker crossing those of others.

Though the Wright brothers are the focus of the comic, several other key men are highlighted in their contributions to the eventual success of the creation of a heavier than air flying machine. The comic likewise has a definite feminine touch because Katharine, younger sister to the Wright brothers, is the narrator.

The technical difficulties each potential aviator had to overcome are discussed and often explained through drawings in the story. In this way, readers can better understand concepts that might not be clear through description alone.

Molly Brooks chose to use gray scale mixed with yellows and browns only in her art. This gives a historic feel to the drawings which fits well with the subject.

The First Second Science comics are a creative, and still scientifically accurate, way to teach. They are much more user-friendly than traditional textbooks.

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